AN OLD 'CHUNG DZI' BANDED AGATE BEAD Himalayan region, presumably Tibet, around 500-1000 CE or later. Bow-shaped, translucent bead with appealing hues of caramel and dark brown, diversified by slim, milky-white inclusions. Well-polished and with central drilling showing ancient toolmarks. 'Chung dzi' beads are believed to have been created in ancient times by bead makers from agate or chalcedony and were worn as protective amulets. The prefix chung in this instance refers to a specific type of stone material that has unique healing properties. Condition: Good condition with some expected, age-related wear. Displays a patina that only develops after being worn for many centuries. Provenance: The collection of The Zelnik Istvan Southeast Asian Gold Museum. Institutional art collection in Belgium, acquired from the above. Dr. Istvan Zelnik, President of the Hungarian South and Southeast Asian Research Institute, is a former high-ranking Hungarian diplomat who spent several decades in Southeast Asia, building the largest known private collection of Asian art in Europe. Weight: 17 g Dimensions: 5.3 cm